Reviews of literature and information resources for children and young people - a New Zealand website and an overseas website:

Bobs Books Blog (n.d.) Childrens and Young Adult Book reviews by Bob Docherty. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://bobsbooksnz.wordpress.com/

This is a terrific site for reviews on current and not so current childrens and young adult books from none other than Bob Docherty.  Bob Docherty is a bit of a legend in the library world, he worked for the National Library for over 20 years and now does book talks around the country on his own.  Bob reviews books in such a way that he brings them to life and sparks a curiosity that gets kids running to the bookshelf.  This site has links to websites of interest, how to contact Bob and a drop down menu for picking a category of reviewed books.

the guardian (n.d.) Children’s books. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site

This site has top tens, reviews, interviews with authors, quizzes and extracts from books to see if you are interested in reading the whole book.  A great source for delving into a new genre or for finding out more about your favorites!

Awards

The New Zealand Post Book Awards (1997) New Zealand Children’s Post Book Awards. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.booksellers.co.nz/awards/new-zealand-post-childrens-book-awards

This is a terrific website dedicated to our New Zealand Children’s books.  It is a place where you can see all winners from 1997-2013.  Voted by children and judged by judges, this is a terrific site to find out what is most wanted in our literature

The Association for Library Service for Children (1996) A division of the American Library Association. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia

This site is a fantastic site for a list of all the American Awards, with links to each one with the awarded books named and noted.  If you want to know about any books that have been awarded the Newbery Medal, this is one place to go, and many more listed such as, Caldecott Medal, Carnegie Medal, Geisel Medal, and the Wilder Award.  Also are links to grants and scholarships.

Organisations involved in the promotion of reading and literature

New Zealand Book Council (n.d.) Bringing books and people together. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Overview/Introduction/Home.htm

The New Zealand book council’s main message and goal is to inspire New Zealanders to read more.  To support and promote New Zealand literature as well as supporting children through one of the many programmes ‘Writers in Schools’.  This not for profit organisation has been running since 1972 and hopefully, for many more years ahead.

Guys Read (n.d.) Guys Read. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.guysread.com/

This site is dedicated to getting our guys to read. Supporting and promoting books that would be of interest to all the guys in your life.  From mysterious occurrences, animals, outer space with aliens and many more topics.  The website is aimed at attracting guys with books that will interest them and keep them reading.  A great site for any guy.

Publishers or booksellers

Wheelers (2013) The world of books at your fingertips. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.wheelers.co.nz/

This has to be my most favourite bookseller website! There are so many categories you can choose from and each book has a great description and summary of content.  Used by many a library, this can be used by school libraries and personal buying as well.  

Random House Books (n.d.) Random House New Zealand. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.randomhouse.co.nz/

This publisher has a varied assortment of books that they publish.  From fiction to nonfiction, children’s books to adult books, this is a very prestigious and well set publisher.  With sister companies in the UK, U.S.A., Canada, Europe, India, South Africa and Australia, this company will be around for a long time yet.  With an established New Zealand market, this company is not afraid to broaden its horizons.  Great reviews and information about upcoming books, authors and contributes to local awards.  This site is worth a look at.

Fiction reading and reviews for primary school children

Books for Keeps (n.d.) The children’s book magazine online. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/

This site has terrific reading ideas and great reviews for primary school children.  There is a terrific tab set up where you can pick the age group on which you want to see recommended books and reviews.  From current issues to past issues, there is heaps to look at on this website.

Parents in Touch (2013) Parents in Touch. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.parentsintouch.co.uk/Book-reviews-fiction-5-to-11-page-5

This is a terrific website for parents or teachers, with the choice of what age group you want to have a look at for book reviews with the option of buying off to the side.  Well looked after, the reviews about this site are glowing to say the least.  A great place to have a look at what's current within the age group you need to know about.

Fiction reading and reviews for teenagers

The Pulse (n.d.) Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://thepulse.org.nz/read/booklists/

This site is well structured and has a great list of links that you can click depending on your desired review search.  Well thought out and easy to navigate, this is a great site for teens to come and look at books and reviews tailored to their needs.

Teen Reads (2013) The Book Report Network. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.teenreads.com/

This site is well rounded for any teen.  With reviews, authors, features, the ultimate reading list, coming soon section, contests, blog and a newsletter, this site is designed to keep you in the know!

Information resources for primary school children

Kids Matter (n.d.) Australian Primary Schools Mental Health Initiative. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/primary/resources-your-journey

This site is a good place to go to look at what is happening to support our children across the ditch.  It has professional development updates, programmes guide, mental health information, school surveys and stories as well as e-newsletters and merchandise.  Their aim is to help parents, teachers and carers support children the best way they can.

BBC Schools: Educational resources from the BBC (2013) Learning Schools. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/

This site has a teachers resource and activities link, you are able to find content by subjects or sites, view class clips, listen to a school radio, have access to online learning and support for children, parents help, teachers packs, top stories, education news, school planners and a BBC schools newsletter.  A great all rounder for this age group!

Information resources for teenagers

Teen Ink (1989) Resources for Teens. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://teenink.com/Resources

This site has many resources for teens, topics include writing, contests, family and self, author's, school and college, art and photography, health, libraries and schools, careers and many more.  Worth a look at, has been developed by and run by teens since 1989.

Struggling Teens (n.d.) Information Resources for Struggling Teens. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.strugglingteens.com/infoservices.html

This is a site that has links to help struggling teens, from online support, to a directory, a newsletter, personalized help for parents in crisis, schools and programmes, a discussion forum, new perspectives and many more links designed to help the parent or teen who may be struggling with this difficult time in their life.  Worth a look.

Any other websites I found interesting or useful

Fiction Express for Schools (2013) Interactive e-books where you control the plot. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://schools.fictionexpress.co.uk/en/home

What a cool concept! Love this site, it can be used as a stand alone class read, a homework challenge, for shared reading, in a book club or for independent comprehension activity.  So great, have a look!

Amazing Kids (2011) An educational non-profit helping kids launch their dreams. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://amazing-kids.org/main/

A wonderful site, an online magazine run by kids for kids.  Its a monthly online magazine that gives kids a voice and a way to share their dreams and talents.  A wonderful site that is worth the visit.

Bartleby (1993) Great books online. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.bartleby.com/index.html

This is a great website for free online books.  Easy to navigate and find books.  Worth a look.

Roald Dahl (2013) The Official Website. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.roalddahl.com/

A true childs favorite author, this website is fun and interactive.  Great to have a look at and a play!

EARLY

Ludy, Mark (2008). The Flower Man: a wordless picture book. Sydney, Australia: New Holland         Publishers Pty. Ltd.

I love this wordless picture book!  Aimed at children 3-6 years old it is a great story for every age.  Before the story begins there is a quote from the author, "My grandpa always said, Everyone's gotta story...you jus' gotta find out what it is."  It's a great quote and a wonderful way to start this story, as it encourages the curiousity from the reader.
  This is such a beautifully illustrated book that you will want to find a child and go through it with them.  Creating your story from what you observe in a wordless picture book is a wonderful way to create the magic of books with any youngster.  The basic sotryline is, a flower man moves into a dreary new town and brings life and colour to the town by sharing his love of flowers.  Its a terrific book for curious toddlers that love to tell us all stories as well as older children as it sparks such a wonderful way of sharing stoies.  Noticing all the different stories happening on each page though the windows and actions of the characters is a great way to discuss humanity and our passions.  Everyone on the planet should read this book in my opinion.

MIDDLE

McGowan, Anthony (2011). The Donut Diaries: of Dermot Milligan. Great Brittan: Corgi Books.

This book is more than a donut diary, it is a recollection of this young mans life as he grows up.  From going to big school, making new friends and the challenges of foot in mouth responses he has a tendancy to create.  Boys can relate to Dermot's uncomfortable age and dysfunctional funny family.  A stage most prepubescent children go though when discovering who they are and what they value. It's a funny book with disgusting bits to bring big smiles to boys aged 9-12.  Ever since the popularity of Jeff Kinney's The Wimpy Kid series, parents and children have been looking for books that are similar in the angst of the early high school years.  This book is a great read, it has the threat of Camp Fatso, the dysfuntional family unit, the bully and the hilarity of awkward moments.  Here is an excerpt from the book:

Sunday 17 September
I was burning my childhood.  It was an authentic Rite of Passage, like when Maori boys get their first tattoo, or Eskimos snog their first walrus.  I felt my eyes begin to water.  At first I thought it was because of all the emotion.  It's not everyday you say goodbuye to your childhood.  Then I realized it was because of all the black oily smoke coming off othe burning plastic.  We moved back.  It was quite impressive.  There weren't any decent flames, but there was a red glow from underneath the tangled pile of old toys, and so much smoke you'd have thought a battleship had been torpedoed and dive-bombed to destruction.  It was aobut then that I head the first faint siren.  And by siren, I don't mean a beautiful sea maiden trying to lure me onto the rocks - I mean the electornic wail of a police car.  Or, as it turned out, fire engine. 'What the hell's going on?'  That was my dad, leaning out ot the upstairs toilet window.

I would highly recommend this book to any child that has enjoyed the Jeff Kinney series, or enjoys diary formatted books with a sense of awkward humour.  Dermot Milligan has won me over, and not only because he likes his donuts!

TEEN

Moon, Pat (2006). Do Not Read or Else!: Finch's secrets on Love, Lies, Truth, Who is my Dad?.
     Sydney, Australia: Hachette Books.

Shorlisted for the Sheffield Children's Book Awards, Do not read or Else! Is a terrific journey though a young teenagers crazy world.  Finch is obsessed with finding her real father, so much so, she ignores or goes right against the advice of her very own boyfriend!  Aged twelve and a half, Finch is a girl you want to relate to.  Her mother is pregnant with triplets and dating the father, Ian.  Here is an excerpt from the book:

Monday, 29th November
19.05
If anyone is osessed, it's Ian.  He's obsessed with ababies!  He came home with a huge pile of books from the library about childbirth.  Hand to endure him reading out INERESTING FACTS during dinner.  E.g. The placenta is the baby's life-support system.  This is attached from the mother's uterus to the baby by the umbilical cord.  Twins and triplets can be formed with a single egg splits.  PER-LEEZ! Not when i'm eating my omelete!

 Everything is a big deal, from not having enough pocket money, two weddings, triplets and a very smelly dog.  But the most important thing to Finch is, who is her dad and how does she find him?  This book touches on sujects of truth, friendships, money, family, kissing and sex.  A great series for girls aged 12-14.  Finch is relatable and fun.  The diary format of this book makes it a great fast paced read.  I would recommend this book and series to girls aged 12 and up who especially enjoy reading diary formatted books.

Helpful Links

Here is a list of helpful links relating to Children and Literature:

http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

http://englishonline.tki.org.nz/English-Online/Teacher-needs/Teaching-Learning-sequences/Archived-English-Online-units/English-Units-Years-4-6/Fab-Fiction-Close-Reading

http://esolonline.tki.org.nz/ESOL-Online/Teacher-needs/Pedagogy/ESOL-teaching-strategies/Oral-language/Teaching-approaches-and-strategies/Reading/Three-level-reading-guides

http://esolonline.tki.org.nz/ESOL-Online/Teacher-needs/Pedagogy/ESOL-teaching-strategies/Oral-language/Teaching-approaches-and-strategies/Reading/Anticipatory-reading-guides

http://literacyonline.tki.org.nz/Literacy-Online/Teacher-needs/Instructional-Series/Ready-to-Read/The-Ready-to-Read-series

http://literacyonline.tki.org.nz/Literacy-Online/Teacher-needs/Instructional-Series/Ready-to-Read/The-theory-behind-Ready-to-Read

http://literacyonline.tki.org.nz/Literacy-Online/Teacher-needs/Instructional-Series/Ready-to-Read/Ready-to-Read-in-lteracy-programmes

http://www.stonesoup.com/

http://www.mightybook.com/

http://kidbibs.com/home.htm

http://manyanswers.co.nz/